ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
CLEVELAND OSHA OFFICE
THE CLEVELAND SAFETY FORUM
May 23, 2015

Alliance Background

Date Signed:

June 19, 2012 (Initial Signing)
May 23, 2014 (Renewal Signing)

Overview:

OSHA and the Cleveland Safety Forum renewed the alliance for another two year period in May 2014 to continue to provide local construction companies, employees and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect the health and safety of construction workers. The members of the Safety Forum include a group of union contractors, management, and union training coordinators. The alliance addresses occupational topics such as crane regulations, fall protection, silica exposure and education, training in hazard recognition and control in the construction industry.

Implementation Team Members

Howard Eberts

Area Director, Cleveland OSHA Office

Julie Weis

Compliance Assistance Specialist, Cleveland OSHA Office

Kent Crytzer

Co-Chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

William Hocevar

Co-Chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

Don Mays

Co-Chair, Cleveland Safety Forum

Contributors

Contributors include members of the Safety Forum who attend monthly meetings and provide input to further the cause of the alliance.

Evaluation Period

This report covers the period from May 23, 2014 to May 23, 2015.

1. Implementation Team Meetings

   June 24, 2014	Cement Masons Hall, meeting
   July 22, 2014	A draft alliance document was submitted to the parties for review which was sent to the Regional Office for finalizing.
   August 29, 2014	Building Trades, meeting
   September 30, 2014	Carpenter's Training Facility, meeting
   October 31, 2014	Carpenters training Facility, meeting
   November 24, 2014	Plumber's Local Training Facility, meeting
   January 6, 2015	Carpenter's Training Facility, meeting
   February 17, 2015	Construction Safety Day, Tri-C Corporate College
   March 5, 2015	Cement Mason's Hall, meeting
   April 24, 2015	Precision Environmental Company, meeting

   There were also many phone calls made and email correspondence over the course of the year regarding the progress of the alliance and to make plans for upcoming meetings.

2. Events and Products

   Training and Education

   • Events

     The third annual Construction Safety Initiative was held on February 17, 2015 at Cuyahoga Community College, Corporate College facility. This day-long event was developed jointly between all members of the alliance. It was again, a very successful event for local construction companies, superintendents, foremen, workers and other individuals within the Cleveland OSHA office jurisdiction. There were approximately 250 attendees. The content of the training included a variety of topics addressing the most hazardous areas in construction including falls, ladder safety, and power tools, cranes and confined spaces. Two keynote presentations were given, one by the Chicago Deputy Regional Administrator for OSHA on an OSHA update and the other by a motivational speaker on the importance of safety training. Many vendors were onsite to offer their services from personal protection equipment to health and wellness programs. The feedback received from the attendees was very positive, most requesting to have a 4th annual event next year.

     Another very successful event that was held nationwide was "OSHA's Fall Safety Stand Down Campaign." Throughout the two week-long Stand-Down (May 4-15), employers and workers paused during their workday to focus on the hazards of falls and how to prevent them from occurring. Industry and business leaders, including universities, labor organizations, construction companies, and community and faith-based groups, had scheduled stand-downs in all 50 states and across the world. Locally, in the Cleveland area, OSHA participated with two construction companies in their stand down training activities at their projects. The companies have been a part of the alliance membership at some point during the past three years. All of the workers at the sites were represented by the local union building trades and by management. A third stand down event took place at the Carpenter's Training facility in Richfield, Ohio, where a compliance officer gave a hands-on talk to apprentices. This included all of the site's apprentices, approximately 50 students and was detailed as to the OSHA requirements on employee fall protection and the ramifications of noncompliance, since fall fatalities represent the most prevalent cause of workplace deaths.

   • Products

     Through the alliance membership, the Job Safety Analysis form that was specifically developed to target the operations that are found on construction sites continued to be utilized this year as well. More companies are incorporating this process into their programs. The focus is on the potential hazards that could occur and necessary personal protective equipment to protect the worker. Each task is analyzed to assure the worker is knowledgeable to complete the job. Training on the JSA form was incorporated into the local OSHA 30 hour classes being taught to construction workers, reaching over several hundred individuals.

   Outreach and Communication

   • Events

     On a monthly basis the local construction safety council has meetings that are designed around the needs of construction companies regarding improving safety and health on their jobsites. In conjunction with the local OSHA office, the area director and/or compliance officer would routinely speak at the meetings to update the audience on the latest topics relating to OSHA, enforcement, and the construction industry.

   • Handouts, pamphlets, and other products have been provided to safety council attendees. Especially critical were pamphlets and posters related to OSHA's heat and fall prevention campaigns.

   • The subject of silicosis prevention for construction workers remains a high priority for the members of the safety forum. Areas include health hazards created by silica dust and the need to develop an awareness (education), medical monitoring and respirator program. The purpose of the Monitoring, Awareness and Respirator Safety ("MARS") Program is to help facilitate the employers' efforts to provide a safe, healthy work environment for employees. Today, the MARS program has been implemented in the local unions for the cement masons as well as the laborers, covering over 200 employees.

   • On July 24, 2014, the Cleveland OSHA office hosted two summer college interns from separate construction companies within the alliance to provide a one-day experience. The students spent time with construction compliance officers discussing the mission of the agency, duties of an inspector, OSHA regulations, typical hazards found on a construction site and more. Although only one day in length, this thorough orientation provided them with a wide-ranging view of what OSHA does as an enforcement agency within the Department of Labor.

   • Products

     Delivery of monthly Safety Newsletters to local construction companies. Over 5,000 companies and individuals receive the hard copy document that covered a variety of safety and health topics designed for construction businesses.

     On the date of the alliance renewal signing, all signatories participated in a video-taping sponsored by the Construction Employers Association (CEA) which was placed on their website. The intent was to describe the merits of working together collaboratively through the formality of the alliance to make advances in the safety and health of the workers in the local construction industry.

3. Results

   The successful third year of this alliance has resulted in educating construction companies and individuals on the prevention of workplace hazards, OSHA regulations and methods for creating and maintaining safety and health programs. This alliance has been instrumental in furthering the relationship between OSHA and the construction industry of Northeast Ohio, and we look forwards to its fourth year of activities and growth.

   Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
   Development of tailored Job Safety Analysis form specifically for construction sites	>600
   Construction Safety Initiative (Day long training sessions)	250
   Monthly meetings held for construction companies by the Construction Safety Council of Northeast Ohio	1,000
   Monthly Safety Forum Meetings	~150 per mtg.
   The issuance of monthly Safety Newsletters to local construction businesses	5,000
   TOTAL	>6,000

4. Upcoming Milestones

   The major planned activity for the alliance is the 4th annual Construction Safety Day currently being discussed for February 2016. The first three annual events were very successful day-long conferences for local construction companies, superintendents, foremen and workers. There were approximately 250 attendees each year.

Photos below depicting activities from the Construction Safety Day at Tri-C Corporate College, February 17, 2015. Photos provided courtesy of The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council.